Nickel and dime plans

Without large-item dealerships to bring in huge sales tax amounts, the city of Cheney has had to rely on construction projects, dedicated fees and taxes along with grants to pay for things like public safety, street improvements and its 50-plus-year-old swimming pool.

Which are several reasons why the City Council agreed at its Oct. 9 meeting to shell out $73,969 for a pair of “investment grade audits” to determine where energy efficiencies can be found in city facilities, exactly how much the upgrades will cost and how much in savings and energy rebates the city could realize over time...